Facilitators and Barriers to the Achievement of Healthy Lifestyle Goals: Qualitative Findings From Australian Parents Enrolled in the PEACH Child Weight Management Program

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the qualitative research methods used in the Parenting Eating and Activity for Child Health (PEACH) randomized controlled trial and to examine parent-reported facilitators and barriers to the achievement of program goals.

Design: Qualitative study using semistructured interviews.

Setting: Parents enrolled in the Australian PEACH randomized controlled trial, a family-focused child weight management program conducted blinded for review.

Participants: A total of 95 parents of overweight children aged 5-10 years participated in face-to-face semistructured interviews.

Phenomenon of interest: Factors external to the PEACH intervention that facilitated or inhibited their success.

Analysis: Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis techniques.

Results: Three facilitator themes were identified: (1) internal locus of parental control, (2) external locus of parental control, and (3) child factors. Six barrier themes were identified: (1) internal locus of parental control, (2) external locus of parental control, and (3) child factors; (4) maintenance and managing special occasions; (5) time management challenges; and (6) inconsistencies or lack of support.

Conclusions and implications: The social and environmental barriers and time pressures identified by parents are a common feature of Western family life such that many parents are raising families in stressful situations. Insights provided by this qualitative research provide an important understanding of these experiences. Consideration of such issues in the design and implementation of future child weight management interventions may help to increase the acceptability and effectiveness of such programs.

Keywords: barriers; child; facilitators; family; obesity; parents; qualitative.